What are the symptoms of enteritis?

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 22, 2024
00:00
00:00

Enteritis is generally divided into chronic enteritis and acute enteritis. Acute enteritis usually has severe symptoms and develops rapidly. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. In the case of chronic enteritis, symptoms can include mucous stools, bloody pus stools, and abdominal pain, as well as nausea and vomiting. Therefore, during acute enteritis, symptomatic treatment using anti-inflammatory drugs generally cures it within about three days. However, the treatment for chronic enteritis differs from that of acute enteritis since it involves a sterile inflammation, and anti-inflammatory drugs are generally not required outside the acute phase. So, when you are diagnosed with acute enteritis, do not worry; it can usually be quickly cured with some anti-inflammatory medication.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
1min 1sec home-news-image

How to treat enteritis?

Patients with enteritis mainly suffer from a series of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., due to viral and bacterial infections. Severe cases can lead to dehydration. Therefore, while providing symptomatic and etiological treatments, it is crucial to pay attention to dietary adjustments. This involves eating less irritating food and avoiding raw and cold foods, including contaminated water and uncooked fruits and vegetables, which should be thoroughly heated. Additionally, it's important to avoid uncooked eggs, meat, poultry, and other such foods, as well as cold foods, spicy peppers, strong tea, coffee, etc. Moreover, quitting smoking and alcohol is essential, as alcohol can particularly aggravate the intestines. It is also important to develop good dietary and lifestyle habits.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
52sec home-news-image

Will enteritis cause stomach pain?

Patients with enteritis mostly experience symptoms of abdominal pain, mostly manifesting as mild to moderate abdominal pain. Spasmodic pain in the lower left abdomen or lower abdomen is more common, and sometimes it can involve the entire abdomen. Some patients also have these symptoms where urgency and severe straining follow a bowel movement, and abdominal pain relieves after defecation. In cases with milder conditions, the pain is only a discomfort in the abdomen or mild obscure pain. Moderate cases may have mild tenderness in the lower left abdomen, and sometimes doctors can also feel a spasming colon. In severe cases, such as those complicated by toxic megacolon or when inflammation spreads to the peritoneum, there can be persistent severe abdominal pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
1min 7sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of enteritis?

Enteritis is divided into acute enteritis and chronic enteritis. Acute enteritis is mainly caused by bacterial invasion of the gastrointestinal tract due to unhygienic food, leading to acute inflammation. The main symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, etc. If it is chronic enteritis, the main symptoms are only abdominal pain and diarrhea, with white mucus visible in the stool. Acute enteritis has a short course and a sudden onset. Chronic enteritis has a long history, a gradual onset, and recurrent attacks. The treatment of acute enteritis mainly involves anti-inflammatory measures, rehydration, and symptomatic treatment. Generally, the disease can be cured after two to three days of treatment. Treatment for chronic colitis primarily involves oral probiotics to regulate the intestinal flora. The treatment period is relatively long and the condition is prone to recurrence.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
45sec home-news-image

Symptoms of enteritis

So, what are the typical clinical symptoms of proctitis? Since the rectum is close to the anus, the symptoms mainly include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. Some patients experience alternating constipation and diarrhea. Generally, stools may contain mucus or blood, and there is often a burning sensation in the anus during bowel movements. Additionally, the irritation from rectal secretions can lead to eczema and itching around the anus. Diagnosing proctitis is relatively easier compared to pan-colitis. Diagnosis is usually made through proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, and sometimes confirmatory diagnosis requires these biopsies.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
1min 15sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for enteritis?

Many friends with poor gastrointestinal health feel confused when seeking medical treatment. When registering, we are not sure which department to visit. We describe enteritis as an inflammatory disease, primarily including specific inflammations or non-specific ones caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc., such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and others. There are also localized types of enteritis, which can be divided into acute and chronic based on the duration of the illness. For example, acute enteritis can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while chronic can mainly manifest as constipation and other symptoms, with some patients also experiencing fever and a sense of urgency followed by straining. Therefore, the treatment methods for enteritis vary. During medical consultations, it is generally recommended for patients to visit the department of gastroenterology as it falls under the category of gastrointestinal diseases. Of course, the proctology department is also an option, and a portion of the cases can be correctly diagnosed and treated in proctology.